Gun



G. M. BARNES GUN June 2, 1931 6 Sheets-Sheet l FiledDec. 1Q, 1929 II ll INVENTOR. Gladenn M-E1arnE5 BY WW w v V\ q -iwt June 2, 1931. G. IIVLQBARNES 5 1,808,097

' 'wiq' Filed Dec. 10, 1929 s sheets-sheet s June 2, 1931.

G.M. BARNES GUN Filed Dec. 10, 1929 6',S -heets-Sheet 4 JNVENTOR;

Gladacm M E1a rues June 2, 1931.

.G. BARNES GUN Filed Dec. 10. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 GlademnMEmrnes WW, fwd

............. J WWW fig ///A// /fi A TTORNEY June 2, 1931. G. M. BARNES 1,808,097

GUN

Filed Dec. 10. 1929 e Shets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

llladeun Mfiarn 5 I BY MM 4 v ATTORNEY 7 Fig. 8 is V ew on the line B-B of manufactured and used by or for the Gov F lgpl; T V ernment for governmental purposes, without Fig. 9 is a view on the line C-G of the payment to me of any royalty thereon. Fig. 1*;

i This invention relates to a gun ofthe type Fig.' is a view on the line D -.D of

in which the powder gases of discharge are Fig. 1; p utilized for-retarding the recoil movement of Fig. 11 is a view on the line ETTE of the gun, and the resulting compressed gases Fig. 1; V are available for restoring the gu'i to bat FFig. 12 is a view on the line FF of H 1g. 1; V ion is characterized by the em- 12- 3 s t View on the line of ployment of a portion of the confined'gases Fig. 1; p 7 to establish a counter-recoil bufier by an ar- Fig. 14 is a view onthe line HH of rangeineiit whereby the high pressure side of Fig. 11; the mechanism is vented during apredeter- F Fi gi.215 is a view'on the line J-J of Patented June 2, 1931 GLADEON M. BARNES, OF HASTINGS, MICHIGAN GUN Application filed December 10, 1929. Serial No. 413,117.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1928; 370 0. (ii-.757)

The invention described herein may be,

tery.

The invent mined interval of co-unterrecoil, and by a r i. provision for holding thegun ina variable position of battery vation.

wherein Figs. 1 and 1 are longitudinal sectional I views'in continuation of each other of a gun I constructed in. accordance with the invention and showing the parts in position of in bat-v tery;

F i g. 2 is aIview similar to Fig. 1 and showing the parts in position of full recoil;

Figs. 3 and l are respectively in plan view and a view in longitudinal section of the cradle Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation with parts I in section of the recoil andcounterrecoil cylinder Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the cradle showing the movingeparts in the position they occupy at the conclusion of the initial half of counterrecoil; i

.7 is a view on the line A-A of Fig Fig. 1

at all angles of eleing rod KK.of Fig. 6.

reference 7 u o u Figs. 16 .and 17 are respectively views n side elevation and bottom plan of the actuat- Fig. 18 is a detail View in rear elevation of one of the guides for the actuating rod;

Fig. 19 shows detail views 01": the plunger engageable with'the actuating rod; and t Fig. is a detailsectional view on the line Referring to the drawings by numerals of In Figs. 1. 1 and 11 there is shown a chan nel-s haped cradle 5 provided with trunnions 6 and'having guideways 7 on theupper marginel portions of its side plates 5 for receiving the slides 8 onthe jacket 9 of a gun barrel 10. A recoil and counterrecoil cylinder 11 positioned underneath and parallel to the gun is provided with a pair of annular hange ers 1212 which embrace the gun and are sethrough a pin 19.

cured thereto in a. substantially similar manner, being confined between a .i'houlder 13 of the gun and a collar 14 threaded on the gun. The hangers 12 are provided with slides 15 receivable in the guideways 7 to prevent rotational"displacement of the cylinder during reciprocation and the rear hanger is interlocked with the'jacltet 9 through thekey 9 The rear cylinder head 16 is formedwith a transversely apertured lug 17 whereby the cylinder is connected to the gun lugs 18 Referring toFigs. 10, 11 and 14:, the interior of the cylinder 11 is in communication with the interior of each hanger 12 through olfset passages 20 and 21 connect d by a longitudinally extending passage 2-2 in which is placed a poppet valve 23 normally neld open by a spring 24. The inlet passage 20 leading into the hanger is in alinement with an outlet passage 25 in the wall of the gun, there by permitting the rapidly expanding ga of discharge to be conducted from the bore of the gun to the cylinder.

' While only one set of the gas passages 202122, namely, that one associated with the rear hanger, is required for the normal successful functioning of the gun illustrated, it may be necessary or advisable under certain conditions of bore pressure, weight of the reooiling parts of a gun and the length of recoil thereof, to provide for variations in the volume of gases to be admitted into the cylinder. T 0 this end a valve 20" 5) is indicated in the passage 20 in the forward hanger and in the subsequent description this valve will be considered as being closed.

Within the cylinder 11 is a hollow piston rod 26 secured to the front plate 27 of the cradle 1 F) and having its piston head 28, spaced from the cylinder h ad 16 to constitute abuffer chamber 29. The wall of the piston rod is provided with apertures 30, and a valve 31 in the piston head 28 enables the gases to pass into the buffer chamber 29. An adjustable relief valve 32 is placed in the wall of the cylinder to allow the gases in the buffer chamber to slowly escape.

Extending rearwardly from the piston head 28 is a sleeve 33 whose outer wall contains a number of packing rings Upon relative movement of the piston and cylinder, the sleeve functions to close the gas passage 21 (which is located on. the line 12- 12 of Fig. 1) in the cylinder until the pressure in the buffer chamber has been developed sufficiently to insure the closing of the poppet valve 23 during the remainder of the recoil stroke and. the initial 'counterrecoil stroke.

Mounted on the forward extremity of he hollow piston rod 26 g. 1) a sleeve valve 35 normally held in a .%O1'\Vrl1(l position by a spring 36 (Fig. 3) to cover outlet ports 37 in. the piston. The actuating mechanism for retracting the sleeve valve consists of a driving rod 38 and a. pivoted lever 39, both mount ed on the cradle (Figs. at and 8) and the latter having a slot 40 which receives a pin 4-1 on an arm l2 of the valve. In the normal closed position of the valve, the lever is held in. a vertical position with the pin .;1 in gagement with the forward end of the slot by means of a. plunger 43 mounted on the floor of the cradle. In this position. the upper end of the lever is disposed in a recess aid in the rod which is being held in retracted position by spring 45, the rear end of the rod engaging a buffer 46 carried in a bracket 47.

The actuating mechanism for moving the rod against the action of its spring comprises a plunger 4-.8 carried in a housing 49 secured to the cylinder 11 (Figs. 3 and 10). When the cylinder is at the end of its recoil stroke, the plunger extending through a slot- 50 in a guide bracket 51 (Figs. 12 and 18) engages in one of a set of teeth formed on the rear extremity of the driving rod 38 sothat as the cylinder begins to counterrecoil the rod is moved forward to the position shown in V Fig. 6.

During the forward movement of the rod it actuates the lever 39 to retract the sleeve valve 35 and when the forward movement of the rod has been discontinued, as will presently be described, a recess or notch 53 in the rod enables the valve spring 36 to restore the lever to the vertical position. On counter movement of the rod, the lever 39 will be rotated in the opposite direction but the provision of the slot 10 therein will prevent it from actuating the sleeve valve.

The interval during which the sleeve valve 35 is to uncover the outlet ports 37 of the piston rod is predetermined and is controlled by disconnecting the plunger 48 from the rod 88 at a definite point in. the counterrecoil stroke of the cylinder. This is accomplished by rotating the rod and to this end cam grooves 54.- (Figs. 4 and 9) formed in the rod receive pins 55 mounted in opposite sides of a bearing 56 secured to the cradle. in the present instance this disconnection is effected approximately in the middle of the stroke. A portion of the rod 38 at one side of the teeth is cut away as at 57 so that when the rod has been rotated "the plunger will be free to continue its forward movement with the" cylinder 11 and will be carried clear of all teeth on the rod before counter rotation of the rod on the return stroke thereof has placed the teeth in theiroriginal position.

. Because the structure of the cylinder and piston are not such as to retain the gases inde finitely, it becomes necessary to provide some means for holding the gun in battery irrespective of its inclination. A provision for accomplishing this object is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and consists of a piston 58 mounted in a housing 59 and secured centrally to the under side of the cradle and normally maintained in the forward position by a spring 60 having a suliicient capacity to support the gun in all positions of elevation. The piston is connected to the recoil cylinder by means of a gun holding arm in the form of. a pawl 61, pivotally mounted at the rear of the piston and arranged to engage in teeth 62 formed in the under side of the rear cylinder head 16. The pawl is normally held in the elevated tooth-engaging position by a plunger 63 and is adapted to be rotated on rearward movement by riding on a cam surface 64 formed in the housing. A catch is carried in the rear portion of thehousing 59- in line with and immediately in rear of the hooked tailend 66 of the pawl 61. The catch is secured to a transversely disposed yoke 67 (Fig. 13) in whose ends are fixed trip rods 68 ex tending through the housing into the path of lugs 69 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) on the under side of the cylinder 11.

When the cylinder commences its rearward movement on recoil it is locked to the piston and carries it along until the tail end 66 of the pawl depresses the catch 65 and riding on the cam surface 64: is rotated thereby to disene gage it from the tooth 62 of the cylinder. The tail end 66 of the pawl is then engaged by the catch 65 which is free to rise and it isthus held until all of the teeth on the cylinder have passed beyond the pawl. The lugs 69 striking the strip rods 68 depress "the catch and release the pawl and its piston 58 which moves forward under the influence of the pis ton spring 60. Asthe cylinder returns to battery, the pawl re-engages one of the teeth 5 to securely hold the cylinder and the gun at all angles of elevation.

In operation, when the gun is fired, a portion of the rapidly expanding gases of discharge will be delivered through the passages 20, 22, 21 to the cylinder 11 which by reason of its attachment to the gun is'partaking of the recoil movement. During the initial stage of recoil the pressure in the cylinder exceeds the rapidly decreasing pressure in the bore of the gun and effects the closing of the poppet valve 23. Thereafter the gases which are confined in the cylinder will be' compressed as the forward end of the cylinder approaches the piston head 28 and will act to yieldingly check the recoil of the gun. .The compressed gases in the forward or high pressure side of the cylinder will be delivered at a 7 rate controlled by the @valve31 to the buffer chamber 29 or low pressure side of the cylinder. During the interval required to develop suflicicnt pressure in the buffer chamber to insure the closing. of the poppet valve 23 against any pressure which still exists in the bore of the gun, the gas inlet passage 21 of the cylinder is blocked off by the sleeve 33 on the piston head. i r p The controlled delivery of gases to thebuffer chamber 29 and the gradual exhausting of this chamber through the valve 32 maintain the chamber at a low pressureand enable the higher compressed gases in the forward part of the cylinder to restore the gun to battery. In order that the counterrecoil stroke may not be too violent the gases in the high pressure side of the cylinder are permittedto escape through the ports 37 during the first half of the stroke, these ports being uncovered by the valve 35 which is moved through therod' 38 H and lever 39, as previously outlined.- The ports are then closed and during the final half of the stroke, the piston compresses the gases 7 in the bufi'er'chamber and establishes such an equalization of pressures on either side there of complementary mechanisms. If the gases r are Wanted primarily to check counterrecoil, the compression chamber may serve as a storage reservoir or a small part of the gases may be afforded delayed admission directly to the buffer chamber.

I claim:

1. In a gun, a cradle, a barrel reciprocally mounted in the cradle, a cylinder Within the cradle and fixed to the barrel, a piston in the cylinder defining a compression and a buffer chamber and having a hollow piston rod fixed to the cradle, a passage establishing communication between the compression chamber of the cylinder and the bore of the barrel, a normally open valve in said passage, a valve in the piston establishing communication between the chambers, means on the piston for closing the passage from the barrel until a predetermined pressure is developed in the buffer chamber, .a relief valve M for the bulfer chamber, a relief'valve' for the compression chamber, means for opening said compression chamber relief valve during the initial half of the counterrecoil stroke of the cylinder and means for releasably holding the barrel and cylinder assembly in battery. 7 2. In a gun, a cradle, a barrel reciprocally [mounted in the cradle, a cylinder fixed to the v barrel, a p1ston 1n the cylinder defining a compression and a buffer chamber and having a hollow piston rod fixed to the cradle, a passage establishing communication between the compression chamber of the cylinder and the bore of the barrel, a normally open valve in said passage, a valve in the piston establishing communication between the chambers, means on the piston for closing the passage from the barrel during an intermediate portion of thestroke of the cylinder, a relief valve for the buffer chamber, a relief valve for the compression chamber, means for opening said; compression chamber relief valve during the initial halfof the counterrecoil stroke of the cylinder and means for releasably holding the barrel and cylinder assembly in battery.

3. In a gun, a cradle, a barrel reciprocally mounted in the cradle, a cylinder fixed to the barrel, a piston in the cylinder defining'a compression and a butler chamber and having a hollow piston rod fixed to the cradle, a passage establishing communication between the compression chamber ofthe cylinder and the bore of the barrel, a normally open valve in said passage, a valve in the piston establishing communication between the chainbers, relief valve for the butler chamber, a relief valve for the compression chamber, means for opening l .compression chamber relief valve during the initial half of the counterrecoil stroke of the cylinder and means for releasably holding the barrel and cylinder assembly battery.

4. In a gun, a cradle, a barrel reciprocally mounted in the cradle, acylinder fixed to the barrel, a piston in the cylinder defining a compression and a butler chamber and having a hollow piston rod fixed to the cradle, a passage establishing communication between the compression chamber of the cylinder an d the bore of the barrel, a normally open valve in said passage, a valve in the piston establishing communication between the chambers, a relief valve for the buffer chamber, a relief valve for the compression chamber, and means for releasably holding the barrel and cylinder assembly in battery. 7

5. In a reciprocating gun, a recoil mechanism utilizing the compressive action and reaction of the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery, means for relieving the pressure of the gases during the initial half of the counterrecoil stroke of the gun and a counterrecoil mechanism employing the elements of the recoil mechanism and gases from the recoil mechanism.

6. In a reciprocating gun, a recoilmechanism utilizing the compressive action and reaction or' the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery, means for relieving the pressure of the gases during the initial halt of the ceunterrecoil stroke of the gun and a counterrccoil mechanism employing the from the recoil mechanism.

7. In areciprocating gun, a recoil mechanism utilizing the compressive ion and reaction of the of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery and a counterrecoil buler mechanism employing the elements of the recoil mechanism. and gases from the recoil mechanism.

8. A cradle, a gun reciprocally mounted thereon, a cylinder n'ioving with the gun, a piston in the cylinder having a hollow piston rod fixed to the cradle, a passa e establishing commimication between thecylinder and the bore of the barrel and positioned to be closed by the piston initial recoil. movement of the cylinder, a relief valve at the forward end of the hollow piston rod, actuat ing mechanism for said valve carried by the cradle and including a spring held rod, driving means on the cylinder for picking up said rod at the commencement of counterrccoil, meansfor subsequently rotating the rod to disengage it from the driving means.

9. A cradle, a gun-reciprocally mounted thereon, a cylinder moving with the gun, a piston in the cylinder having a hollow piston rod fixed to the cradle, a passage establishing communication between the cylinder and the bore of the barrel, a relief valve at the forward end of the hollow piston rod, an actuating mechanism for said valve carried by the cradle and including a spring held rod, driving means on the cylinder for picking up said rod at the commencement of counterrecoil, means for subsequently rotating the rod to disengage it from the driving means.

10. A cradle, a gun reciprocally mounted thereon, a cylinder moving with the gun, a piston in the cylinderhaving a hollow piston rod fixed to the cradle, a passage establishing communication between the cylinder and the bore of the barrel, a relief valve at the forward end of the hollow piston rod and means for opening said relief valve during the initial half of the counterrecoil stroke of the cylinder.

11. A cradle, a gun reciprocally mounted thereon, a cylinder moving with the gun, a piston in the cylinder having a hollow piston rod fixed to the cradle, a passage establishing communication between the cylinder and the bore of the barrel, a relief valve at the forward end of the hollow piston rod and means for opening said relief valve during the counterrecoil stroke of the cylinder.

12. A cradle, a gun reciprocally mounted thereon, a recoil mechanism utilizing the compressive action and reaction of the gases of discharge to check recoil and restore the gun to battery, and means controlled by movement of the gun for rapidly relieving the pressure of the gases during a part of the counterrecoil stroke of the gun.

13. A cradle, a gun reciprocally mounted thereon, a cylinder moving with the gun, a fixed piston working in the cylinder and defining therewith a buffer chamber, means for admitting gases of discharge of the gun into the bufi'er chamber for compression on the counterrecoil stroke ofv the cylinder.

14. A cradle, a gun reciprocally mounted thereon, a counterrecoil mechanism including a butler chamber, means for admitting gases of discharge of the gun during the recoil stroke of the gun into the buffer chamber for compression on the counterrecoil stroke of the gun.

15. A cradle, a gun reciprocally mounted thereon, a counterrecoil mechanism including a buffer chamber, means for admitting gases of discharge of the gun into the buffer chamher for compression on the counterrecoil stroke of the gun.

16. A cradle, 21. recoil gun mounted thereon, means for Checking the gun in recoil and restoring it to battery, a gun-holding member carried by the cradle, a movable gunengaging element on said member, means for disengaging said element from the gun recoil movement of the gun, means for holding the element disengaged and means for inoperating the holding means.

17. In a gun structure a channel-shaped cradle having guideways on its side plates, a gun slidably supported in the guideways and a cylinder underneath the gun having hangers embracing'thegun and slidably supported in the guideways.

GLADEON M. BARNES.

CERTIFICATE OF CORREGTIQN.

Patent No. 1,808,097. a Granted June 2, 1931, to

GLADEON M. BARNES.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, after line 128, insert the following as claim 16:-

16. A cradle, a recoil gun mounted thereon, means for checking the gun in recoil and restoring it to battery, a gun holding piston carried by the cradle, a pawl on one end ef the piston, means for normally holding the pawl in gun-engaging position, a fixed cam operating on recoil of the gun to move the pawl out of engagement with the gun, a catch for holding the pawl disengaged, a trip member for the catch and means on the guns for striking the trip member.;

page 5, line 4, claim 16, appearing in patent, after "gun" insert the word during; the claims now appearing in the patent as numbers 16 and 17 sheultl hear numbers respectively 17 and 18; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of August, A. D. 1931.

Wm. A. Kinnan, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,808,097. Granted June 2, 1931, to

GLADEON M. BARNES.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, after line 128, insert the following as claim 16:-

16. A cradle, a recoil gun mounted thereon, means for checking the gun in recoil and restoring it to battery, a gun holding piston carried by the cradle, a pawl on one end of the piston, means for normally holding the pawl in gun-engaging position, a fixed cam operating on recoil of the gun to move the pawl out of engagement with the gun, a catch for holding the pawl disengaged, a trip member for the catch and means on the guns for striking the trip member.;

page 5, line 4, claim 16, appearing in patent, after "gun" insert the word during; the ciaims now appearing in the patent as numbers 16 and 17 should hear numbers respectiveiy 17 and 18; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. g

Signed and sealed this 4th day of August, A. D. 1931.

Wm. A. Kinnan, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

